Oral Cancer Screening

Everyone was very friendly and nice. They took their time explaining everything to me as well as took their time with
the whole experience. I will be recommending you to my friends and co-workers!

Colleen B.
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Everything you need in dental care! Dr. Paul and the entire staff makes you feel comfortable and don’t pressure you to get any extras and work with your budget. I have lots of anxiety but it went so smoothly and quickly that I was happily surprised! Meg is very welcoming as soon as you walk in. I highly recommend this practice!!

Ann T.
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It was my first time to their office. Everyone was amazing! I will be proud to call this my new dental home! Dr Schmidt was awesome and very patient. He helped me with suggestions for future dental work! I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a dentist! 😊

Vincent P.
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We had a great experience at Life Smiles. I recently “fired” my old dentist because the staff seemed really pushy about dental work and wasn’t very friendly. The staff at Life Smiles was amazing. Everyone was friendly and we didn’t have to wait long. The office is also very nice. We are excited for our new dentist.

Rachel T.
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Everyone is so kind and helpful, and I appreciated that I never feel pressured to do any work that isn’t necessary. I trust that when they say something needs to be addressed, it really does.

Kayla C.
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Dr. Nielson and his staff are truly kind and caring. They know I need before I make it to the treatment chair. The last time I was there, they even had headphones ready for me because they know I like to listen to music while having my teeth worked on.

Our office is not only dedicated to your smile, we’re also dedicated to your overall wellness. We take a holistic approach to your dental care, which includes an oral cancer screening as a part of your regular exam. Like many kinds of cancer, oral cancer can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

We have the skills and tools to ensure early signs and symptoms of oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified. While these symptoms may be caused by other, less serious problems, it is very important to visit our office to rule out the possibility of oral cancer. The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:

Red or white spots or sores anywhere in the oral cavity

A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal

A lump, thickening, or rough spot

Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips

Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue

Our team is trained in a simple, quick screening that involves an examination of your oral cavity as a whole (not just your teeth) to detect cancerous and precancerous conditions. Besides a visual examination of your mouth, we will also feel the tissue of your mouth and throat to detect any abnormalities. If we find an area of concern, we may perform a simple test, such as a brush test, which collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. If this test comes back atypical or positive, we may recommend a biopsy.

Aside from receiving an oral cancer screening during your checkup at our office, there are many things you can do to help prevent oral cancer.

The best way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid all tobacco products and only drink alcohol in moderation.

Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

Limit your exposure to the sun and always wear UV-A/B-blocking, sun-protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.

During your next dental appointment, ask your dentist to perform an oral exam. Early detection of oral cancer can improve the chance of successful treatment.

The Facts on Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can develop at any age, but the average age for new cases is 62, with two-thirds being age 55 or over. Men tend to develop oral cancer twice as often as women, although this may be connected to the fact that men tend to be more likely to use alcohol and tobacco products.

Risk factors for oral cancer include any constant or long-term irritants of the soft tissues of the mouth. This can mean tobacco products, such as cigars, cigarettes, and “dip,” but it can also include e-cigarettes and vaporizers, since they contain irritants, such as nicotine. Excessive use of alcohol is also extremely irritating to the mouth, as well. About 80% of oral cancer patients use tobacco products and about 70% are heavy drinkers. It’s even possible that mouthwash with high alcohol content or poorly fitting dentures may have a link to the mouth irritation that leads to oral cancers.

Immuno-suppressive drugs can also increase the risk of oral cancer. If a member of your family takes this type of medication to treat an immune system disorder or prevent rejection of a transplanted organ, be sure he or she gets an oral cancer screening at every six-month dental appointment.

You have probably heard of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to cause cervical cancer in women. HPV actually contains a group of about 100 viruses. Some cause warts, and some cause cancers. Recent studies have discovered a link between HPV-16 and oropharyngeal cancer—and about 25% of oral cancer patients have the same virus known to cause cervical cancer. You can do your part to prevent oral cancers from HPV infection in the next generation by vaccinating your children between the ages of 11 and 26 years.